ActFast231

@@Skitter Run, "Thank you, but I will pass. I am not one to drink. Plus I don't think this is the time nor place for alcoholic drinks." Max said politely. She has drank before, but has never been intoxicated. Plus being drunk as a mare made him nervous for some explainable reason.

Maybe. Have you ever played a Katamari game?

@, @, Nexus allowed himself to be pushed away-albeit gently-with his own blush present. He turned towards Karma, looking apologetic. "Sorry, sir. I uh...got a bit carried away. Won't happen again, I assure you." He glanced over to Lume, who looked as embarrassed as he was. All things considered, he really enjoyed that. But that can wait for later, for now he returned his attention to Karma. "Ready to begin whenever you are, sir."

@@Snowy Storm, @@Charcoal Embers, @@Frosty V, @, @, (Gonna catch up here) Max watched in horror as Charcoal was caught under a spike trap, feeling helpless to do anything. She busied herself by searching the room, finding nothing of interest. But when Scribe started setting traps off, Max flew up frantically, clinging to the ceiling for dear life. When all was said and done, she entered the room with the others and saw a map, marking cities with like targets. She looked around the room, and saw started to piece together a theory. "He...I think he brought us all here to test his plan." She spoke aloud, for everyone to hear. "He wanted to see if this plan would work. If his device or magic would function as designed. And now he plans on targeting every major settlement in Equestria. He might be planning to gender swap the entire kingdom." Max stepped closer to the map, looking over every settlement, before resting his eyes on Ponyville. His hometown. He looked determined, and turned to meet everypony else. "I can't speak for all of you, but for me, escape isn't an option anymore. I am not going to stand by and let this maniac do the country what he did to us. I won't leave this place until his device is destroyed, he is imprisoned or dead, and this entire facility is leveled. We can't afford anything of this plan to survive. The rest of you want to leave, that's fine, but I'm stopping this guy or dying in the attempt." (Hero's quest post is epic :comeatus:)

@@Charcoal Embers, Max entered the room, seeing all the technology in the room, trying to make sense of it all. She started thinking aloud. "I've seen rooms like this at Canterlot University. These could be anything from breakers for the facility, surveillance and security systems, computers running high end programs and algorithms...We may find a solution to out problem in this room, but there are no guarantees."

@@Skitter Run, Max looked nervous, avoiding the Skitter Run's gaze. "You...might of...let is slip that...you like Sunset." She said, timidly. She heard Charcol and decided this was as good as an escape as any. "COMING! Come on Icy, let's go." She said hastily, flying-literally-through the hall towards her destination.

@@Snowy Storm, Max slowly removed the hat from her face, replacing it on her head. "Thanks, Icy. Hopefully I won't still be a mare several months from now." She was going to say more, when suddenly... Max jumped at the sudden arrival of the mare, looking back and trying to make sense of what was being said, which was hard with her fried nerves. "Look, what I said was mostly true. Just...reverse the roles and the entire truth becomes known."

@@Snowy Storm, Max lowered his hat enough for his eyes to be visible, the signs of tears still visible. "It's just...I get a chance to make some new friends, and that happens. Really screwed this up." It was strange being so emotional for Max. She never has been this emotional over anything. And it was making her irrational. She returned her hat to its place over her face. (No rhyme intended)

@@Snowy Storm, Max couldn't meet his eyes, still extremely embarrassed. She moved a hoof to rub her eyes, and found them wet. Her whole face was. "Did...did I cry? Why did I cry for? Oh, what you must think of me..." She said, using her fedora to cover her face. She can't recall a time in her life where she was more embarrassed than she is now. It made her want to crawl into a whole and disappear.

@@Snowy Storm, @, Max looked at the colt with confusion, before rubbing a hoof through her mane, only to find something protruding out of her neck. She removed it, and in her hoof she saw a poison dart. The same that drugged the mare from earlier. Instantly her face turned a very deep red, her ears fell flat against her head, and she looked away from the two ponies before her, not bothering to get up after being freed. "Umm....what did I do? While I was drugged, that is." She said in a low, bashful tone.

@, @@Snowy Storm, Max looked up, sniffling, but smiling too. Though she couldn't move do to the shield holding her in place. "You-you are awesome, you." She slurred out. She tried to stand up, while wiping away tears, bu suddenly lurched forward, vomiting violently. After a minute of puke-which thankfully landed away from her-she looked around, confused, and obviously experiencing discomfort. "Ugh, what the hell...?" She looked around her, seeing Scribe assisting Icy. "Wait, when did that happen? Why am I on the ground, and...why can't I move?" She struggled against the shield, thinking it another trap.

@@Snowy Storm, @, "Oh noooo. He's in problems. I'll save yoooouuuu." She doubled her efforts to break free, only to thrust forward, and fall on her face. She began to tear up, getting very emotional. "Ooowww. Now he's trapped, and my face huuuuuurts." At this, she began to sob. Thankfully the effects would wear off soon.

@, @@Snowy Storm, (Time to have a bit of fun ) Max was being dragged away from the hall by Scribe, but at the same time, she was struggling with all her drug addled might to break free. "Nooooooo, I wanna help the nice colt. I-I like him cause he's funny and nice and a third thing. Lemme gooooo. Scriiiiiiiibe. Stoooooop." She was acting like a fussy filly at this point, trying desperately to help Icy from what she thought would be his certain death. "I wanna help his pretty face. Lemme help his pretty face. Scriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibe." She continued to whine.

@@Snowy Storm, "N-noooo. I-I-I want you to be the one that does the taking care of uh, of me." Max said in a rather whiny tone. She was still standing, but had the balance of a drunk at the moment, so that could change at any moment. "You are-y-you, my good sir, are funny." She said, laughing a little too enthusiastically for what was absolutely nothing. She tripped, falling over on Icy, before getting stuck on his ice plates. "Don't worry, I will be your shield, buddy." She unfolded her wings to make herself appear bigger. "Come at me bro!" She shouted at the wall.

@@Snowy Storm, @, Max couldn't help but giggle-which is strange, considering she has never giggled before in her life-at Scribes worry. "I'll head down there with him in case he trips and freezes his hindlegs to his head." She said before moving to catch up with Icy. When she got close, she stepped on something sharp, and squeaked in surprised, flying up and hovering for a moment, before looking down and seeing the dart from earlier. "Uhhh...that doesn't have anymore poison in it right?" She landed, and when she did, another dart came and hit her in the neck, sticking there. "Well, that one certainly had poison in it." She said, before stumbling over to Icy, slowly succumbing to the poison effects. (For the lulz.)

@, Nexus returned his gaze to the mare before him with that kiss, and listened to what she had to say. And somehow, he found her words to be...reassuring. It was strange, he wasn't usually the one that needed to be reassured. But this wasn't a normal situation. He saw her go from a fearful, timid mare to a tough, determined and confident companion. And as much as his ego would of loved it, he couldn't take full credit for that. And with that final statement, he couldn't help but feel a tremendous amount of pride and affection for the mare. "Goddamnit, I love you so much Lume." He spoke in a tone of pride-and slight aggression-before kissing her deeply. (Confession time: I have always wanted to write a moment like that in some story or other.)